Pianissimo device.



Gi A. WHEELER. PIANI-SSIMOA DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED APn.1a.1aoa.

Patented May 25, 1909.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OEECE.

GEORGE A. WHEELER, OF WAKEFIELD, MASSMHUSETTS.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

Application led April 13, 1908.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that 1, GEORGE A. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wakelield, in the county of Middlesex and tain new and useful lmprovements in Pianissimo Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to piano actions, and more particularly to a pianissimo device for grand-pianos. tion isto provide a device of this kind which is sim le in construction, lpositive in action, and a so. one which retains a better balance of the key.

1n, theaccompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grand-piano action showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts with the soft-pedal depressed.

Referring specilically to the drawing, 5 denotes the key of a grand-piano action, 6 is the hammer, 7 the hammer rest-rail, S the cap stan, and 9 the wippen. These and the other parts of the action are constructed and ar ranged as usual and need no further description.

The rail 7 is operated by the usual lifter 25 which is connected to the soft pedal (not shown).

At 10 is indicated a rail which extends longitudinally through the piano in front of the action,` and is pivoted at 11 to arms 12 projecting from the action-bracket 18. The pivotal connection is such that the rail may e'swung toward the action. To the actionbracket is fulcrumed at 14 a bell crank-lever, one branch 15 of which is connected to the -rest-rail 7 The other branch 16 of the lever is adapted to engage the upturned end of an rail 10. On the rail 10 is also mounted 5 abutments on the key and the wippen, re-

spectively, the former being a block 21 which is mounted on top of the key, and the latter being a capstan 22 which depends from the wippen. The block 21 and the capstan 22 are located in front of the capstan 8. To the ange 18 is secured a spring 23 which presses with its free end on the wedge 2() and holds it down on the block 21 to preserve a uniform balance of the key, to prevent chattering of the Wedge, and to throw the rail 10 back to The object of the inven- :Specification of Letters Patent.

arm 17 secured to and projecting from the E scribed is shown in Fig. 1. State of Massachusetts, have invented cern Patented May y25, 190e.

Serial No. 426,786.

its normal position when the soft pedal is released. j

The normal position of the partsherein deln this position the point or narrow part of the wedge 20 fits between the block 21 and the capstan 22, and the movement ofthe key is communicated to the wippen 9 by the capstan S. lith the wedge in this position the position of the action is not changed, and as the wedge is pivoted it rises and falls freely with the key and the action and therefore does not affect the touch. Vv'hen the soft-pedal is depressed,

, the rail 7 is raised, and as the bell crank-lei ver 1s connected thereto it swings on its fulcrum 14. The branch 16 of the lever then engages the upturned end of the arm 17 and tilts the rail 10 in a direction to push the wedge 20 forwardly. When the thick portion of the wedge enters between the block 2 1 and the capstan 22, the wippen swings upwardly on its pivot 2l and the entire action is raised which shortens the travel of the hammer and decreases the impact. The capstan 8 is now no longer in contact with the wippen, and while playing, the motion of the key will be transmitted to the wippen by the block 21, the wedge 20, and the capstan 22.

When the soft-pedal is released, the weight of the rail 7 swings the bell crank-lever on its fulcrum in a direction to disen gage its branch 16 from the upturned end of the arm 17 whereupon the rail 10 is tilted back by the pressure of the spring 23 on the wedge 2O and the latter is withdrawn and restored to its normal position with its point or narrow end between the block '21 and the capstan 22.

iUpon withdrawing the wedge as stated, the

`action drops to its normal position.

By the arrangement of parts herein described a simple and eilective pianissimo device is had which can be readily applied to the ordinary grai'id-piano action, and by its employment lost motion is eliminated and the action will properly respond to the touch while playing pianissimo passages.

l claim:

1. 1n a grand piano-action, the combination of a key, a wippen, abutnicnts on the key and the wippen, a hammer rest-rail, a movable supporting member, a wedge connected to said member and projecting between the abutments, and a bent lever pivoted above the wippen and having one arm connected to the 11u-Immer rest rail und the ing on the \'vedge, und means for actuating 1o other erm eom'leetedtothe said supporting the supporting'k member to advance the member. y l Wedge betweenthe abutments.

2. In a. piano-action, the combination of a In' testimony whereof I afx' my signature key, e wippen, abutments on the key :md the in presence of two. witnesses.

w1ppe11, a pivoted Supporting member, ef GEORGE A.; VHEELER. wedge voted to said member, and pro- Vitnesses: jeoting' etween the ebutmets, a spring fas- EDITH APoLLoNIo,

tened tothe supporting member and press- LoUIsE C. ARENTJEN, 

